Your Right to Know

Cuyahoga County government leaders want Dave Yost to excuse himself from performing future
audits of the county, alleging that the Republican’s statements are “inconsistent with the ethical
standards of a government auditor.”

Yost’s office would say only that he would take their request under advisement.

County Executive Ed FitzGerald, the Democratic candidate for governor, blasted Yost’s
observation that findings for recovery can lead to legal action to recover funds from the personal
accounts of public officials, in this case those from Cuyahoga County who are in charge of sending
out absentee-ballot applications despite a new state law reserving that job for the state. The
county’s tab is estimated at more than $300,000.

“At first blush, I would say that is not a proper public purpose and would be subject to either
a noncompliance citation or a finding for recovery, which would mean that the responsible officers
would have to pay the money back,” Yost told
The Dispatch on Wednesday.

FitzGerald said, “He’s basically telling us what the verdict is before he’s made an examination
of the facts. ... He’s trying to intimidate us by threatening our personal finances. It will not
work. I don’t care what they do next.”

The remarks by the Democrat, backed by county council members, came in a news conference outside
bankruptcy court in Cleveland. The setting was intentional because, FitzGerald said, “We certainly
could not afford that kind of a bill.”

Going after the personal funds of elected officials — often an executive and fiscal officer — is
typical when pursuing findings for recovery, Yost said in the interview. A county prosecutor has
first dibs on seeking the money; after 120 days, the responsibility moves to the Ohio attorney
general.

“I have no ability to recover on the finding,” Yost said.

FitzGerald said Yost should find a reputable accounting firm to conduct the county audit in
2014.